From the Closet of: Roya Shanks

Label: Kelita New York

Era: 1960s/70s

Size: Extra Small/Small

About the Item:

A study in 1970s color and clever construction, this Kelita New York dress pairs a body-skimming silhouette with contrasting geometric prints, a corset-like center panel, and a dramatic ruffled hem. Roya wore it frequently to work at The Odeon, often layered beneath a Mansfield jacket she discovered separately at the legendary St. Barnabas church sale in Irvington. "It has a similar middle panel to my Victor Costa," she notes, "almost like a corset shape of a different fabric. And then the ruffle." For Roya, the ensemble became what she affectionately calls "a work outfit"—the kind of distinctive vintage look that made regular appearances in The Odeon's iconic Art Deco dining room.

About the Label:

Founded in New York, Kelita became one of the major junior sportswear labels of the 1960s. Though little remembered today, the brand played an important role in bringing fashion-forward, youth-driven clothing to a mass audience.

One of Kelita's most influential designers was Getty Miller, the Louisiana-born Fashion Institute of Technology graduate whose work helped define the label's late-1960s identity. Miller drew inspiration from the counterculture, vintage clothing, military surplus, and street style, translating the era's hippie and psychedelic influences into accessible ready-to-wear. This dress embodies that spirit: youthful, exuberant, and entirely unconcerned with playing it safe.

Measurements:

Bust: 17” (stretchy)
Waist: 14” (stretchy)
Hip: 15” (stretchy)
Length: 62.5”

Fabric:

No label knit material. 

Condition: 

Item is in excellent vintage condition.